Oregon Republican Party Chairman Bill Currier said the lack of action by Hales, who oversees the Portland Police Bureau, “escalated” the riots:

“It is unconscionable that Portland city commissioners, according to media reports(link is external), not only encouraged demonstrators violently protesting against the results of a legitimate election, but actively enabled them by not ordering the police to take action as the protesters overtook area freeways. This is a dereliction of duty. If Mayor Hales will not stand for law and order and do his job to protect Portland residents from violent rioters, then he should immediately resign.”

Over the past two days, rioters have illegally disrupted commerce and traffic, smashed cars and windows, destroyed private property and committed numerous crimes. The protests have devolved into chaos, as Portland Police declared riot status on Thursday evening. Numerous reports have emerged of people stopped in traffic on closed freeways, facing harassment by passing rioters. The lack of action by City Hall is a clear factor in the escalation of the riots.”

While Hales is set to leave office in January, the Oregon GOP chief is clearly outraged how the protests were pre-planned and Hales did little to stop them from getting out of control. Untold thousands of dollars damage has been done protesters: